Jan 2 (Reuters) -

Drug distributor Cencora ( COR ) raised its annual adjusted

profit forecast on Thursday, citing benefits from its $4.4

billion takeover of Retina Consultants of America (RCA) and

continued strong performance in the U.S. market.

The company now sees its 2025 earnings per share ranging

from $15.15 to $15.45, an increase from its previous projection

of $14.80 to $15.10.

Analysts, on average, expect the profit for the year

ending Sept. 30, 2025, to be $14.96 per share, according to data

compiled by LSEG.

Cencora ( COR ) said it completed the acquisition of RCA on

Thursday. The deal will add nearly 300 retina specialists to

company's portfolio of physician management services.

This move follows Cencora's ( COR ) acquisition of a minority

stake in OneOncology last year for about $685 million to access

a network of cancer specialists.

RCA's network consists of specialists who focus on

treating diseases such as macular degeneration and diabetic

retinopathy.

Encouraged by higher margins and growing U.S. demand for

treatments for complex conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis

and cancer, Cencora ( COR ) and its peers Cardinal Health ( CAH ) and

McKesson have chosen to intensify their focus on this

sector.